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hieroglyphics
- 3 dictionary resultshi⋅er⋅o⋅glyph⋅ic
[hahy-er-uh-glif-ik, hahy-ruh-]
–adjective
| 1. | Also, hi⋅er⋅o⋅glyph⋅i⋅cal. designating or pertaining to a pictographic script, particularly that of the ancient Egyptians, in which many of the symbols are conventionalized, recognizable pictures of the things represented. |
| 2. | inscribed with hieroglyphic symbols. |
| 3. | hard to decipher; hard to read. |
–noun
| 4. | Also, hi⋅er⋅o⋅glyph. a hieroglyphic symbol. |
| 5. | Usually, hieroglyphics. hieroglyphic writing. |
| 6. | a figure or symbol with a hidden meaning. |
| 7. | hieroglyphics, handwriting, figures, characters, code, etc., difficult to decipher: the confusing hieroglyphics of advanced mathematics. |
Origin:
1575–85; < LL hieroglyphicus < Gk hieroglyphikós pertaining to sacred writing. See hiero-, glyphic
1575–85; < LL hieroglyphicus < Gk hieroglyphikós pertaining to sacred writing. See hiero-, glyphic

Related forms:
hi⋅er⋅o⋅glyph⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source
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Link To hieroglyphics
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
hieroglyphics [(heye-uhr-uh-glif-iks, heye-ruh-glif-iks)]
A system of writing with pictures that represent words or sounds. The ancient Egyptians wrote with hieroglyphics. (See Rosetta stone.)
Note: Present-day writing that is hard to decipher or understand is sometimes jokingly called “hieroglyphics.”
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Language Translation for : hieroglyphics
Spanish:
jeroglífico,
German:
die Hieroglyphen,
Japanese:
象形文字
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